TSA Agents Work Without Pay
USA TODAY reports that TSA agents are working without pay due to the ongoing government shutdown, threatening airport security operations with possible delays. Travelers should plan for longer wait times at airports and monitor government and airline communications for the latest developments.
- This marks the second time in three months that TSA agents have been forced to work without pay; a 43-day government-wide shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, ended on November 12, 2025. - The current partial shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, is confined to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It stems from a congressional dispute over funding and proposed reforms for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens. - Nearly 50,000 transportation security officers (TSOs) at more than 430 U.S. airports are deemed "essential" and are required to continue working without pay. - During the 2018-2019 shutdown, the rate of unscheduled absences among TSA agents spiked to 7.6%, more than double the rate of the previous year, forcing airports in Atlanta, Houston, and Miami to close some security checkpoints. - Unlike the broader 2025 shutdown, air traffic controllers are not affected by this funding lapse and continue to receive pay, reducing the immediate risk of widespread flight cancellations. - The previous DHS funding lapse in the fall of 2025 led to a 25% increase in TSA officers leaving the agency compared to the same period in the prior year. Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill has warned Congress that the financial stress from another shutdown could worsen attrition rates.
